Anele Siyabonga
Zeaxanthin, a golden carotenoid pigment produced by Staphylococcus aureus, is suggested to act as an important virulence factor due to its antioxidant properties. Restraining biosynthesis of zeaxanthin was considered an indicator of virulence decline in pigmented S. aureus isolates. Aureus reflects its characteristic surface pigmentation (aureus, meaning “golden” in Latin). The yellowish-orange (golden) pigment produced by S. aureus has been linked to virulence, owing to its antioxidant property.
Orange-yellow, what a beautiful color to represent this fascinating pigment called zeaxanthin. The colonies show characteristic yellow, round, large (1-3 mm), convex, and opaque colonies with beta hemolysis.
Learning about zeaxanthin is so much fun, here are some important facts about it. Xanthophylls like zeaxanthin are most abundant in the leaves of most green plants, where they modulate light energy and may act as a non-photochemical quenching agent to deal with triplet chlorophyll (an excited form of chlorophyll) that is overproduced at high light levels during photosynthesis. In guard cells, zeaxanthin functions as a blue light photoreceptor, mediating stomatal opening.
The predominant carotenoids of the macular pigment are lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin. The regular distribution pattern of these carotenoids …
Zeaxanthin is one of the most common carotenoids in nature, and is used in the xanthophyll cycle. Synthesized in plants and some micro-organisms, it is the pigment that gives paprika (made from bell peppers), corn, saffron, goji (wolfberries), and many other plants and microbes their characteristic color.[1][2]
Learn more about ZEAXANTHIN uses, effectiveness, possible side effects, interactions, dosage, user ratings and products that contain ZEAXANTHIN.
The new PMC design is here!
Learn more
about navigating our updated article layout. The
PMC legacy view
will also be available for a limited time.
Known as an eye vitamin due to its similarity with Lutein, characterised in carrots. Read the article to know the antioxidant carotenoid, its uses, benefits, side effects, and precautions to consider. Consult our FAQs section to learn more at a glance with contact details for further assistance.
